A Legacy of Fan Support and Spectacular Sailing Itajaí first joined the global sailing stage in the 2011-12 edition of The Ocean Race, becoming the race’s sole South American stopover that year. The city welcomed the fleet again in 2014-15 and 2017-18, and most recently hosted the 2022-23 edition, making 2027 its fifth consecutive appearance on the race route. Together, these stopovers have attracted over one-million race fans, confirming Itajaí as a premiere destination for The Ocean Race and its teams, sailors and stakeholders.